Italian marine appeals for political unity back home

In this February 24, 2013 photo, Italian marine Massimiliano Latorre casts his ballot in a polling station in Taranto, Italy.

One of the two Italian marines facing murder charges in India has appealed to politicians back home to show a united front on their behalf, calling for a resolution to the “tragedy”.

Massimiliano Latorre made the appeal in an email to a journalist made public.

“Right now, it doesn’t help us to know who to blame, because it doesn’t lead us anywhere, and political parties bouncing responsibility off each other is even less useful,” Latorre wrote to

Mediaset reporter Toni Capuozzo.

“What we ask for now is not division, but that they link arms, join forces and resolve this tragedy”, he was quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA.

Italian Foreign Minister >Giulio Terzi resigned on Tuesday, protesting government’s u-turn to send back the marines to India.